Abstract
The article is devoted to the newly proposed reading of the graffito on the Chian amphora sherd, discovered in course of excavations at Phanagoria. According to some earlier suggested reconstructions it bears a name of Phanagoras/es, founder of the city, named after him. He was a leader of Greek colonists from his native city of Teos. The publication of this graffito caused a series of real debates between the scholars who put forward diff erent versions concerning the reading of the text and attribution of the person under a proper name Phanagoras. The author of the article mentions all points of view, which appeared during these discussions, informs about his own position, arguing some of the points and agreeing with opponents in terms of restoration line 2. Considering all critical notes and suggestions, born in course of this discussion, the author returned to this inscription once more and gives a new version of how to read and explain the text. According to his reading, based on careful analysis of terms and abbreviations along with the script, the Phanagorian graffiti has no deal with Phanagoras as ktistes of the city nor with the gods which some scholars were trying to find in the text. In reality the graffito is a trading note which belonged to the fish-trader and informs about the sale of keris, a kind of sea-fish, popular among the Greeks as excellent food. This fish was brought to Phanagoria, probably to its emporion, and was presumably passed to a certain Phanagoras, maybe a companion in trade of the graffito’s author. The fish-trader could simply bring fish to the city in order to receive income – two obols and one chalkoy – for one mina or one fish. So, the inscription looks like a very important source on commercial activity in Phanagoria in late Archaic and early Classical time.
Keywords
Phanagoria, Phanagoras, graffito, keris, emporion, income from sales, fishing, fish salting, fish market.
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